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Part Time Poker Interviews Bob “The Coach” Ciaffone

With a career that includes a mountain-long listing of personal and professional successes in various fields, Bob Ciaffone is arguably one of the most versatile and important contributors to the sustained growth of poker over the last few decades. Whether you know him as a prolific poker author, a personal poker coach, a consultant for CheckandRaisePoker.com, or as a successful chess player and author, it’s a rare person in the gaming world who hasn’t run into Bob at some turn. Bob was nice enough to consent to a brief email interview where we covered some of his work, his thoughts on the new shape of poker and, of course, his relationship with CNR.

Learn more about what Bob does by visiting his site http://www.pokercoach.us
Bob Ciaffone

PTP: I’m a pretty big fan of your poker writing – in particular, PL/NL poker helped my game significantly when I was starting out. Which of your books are you most proud of and why?

BC: Middle Limit Holdem Poker. This book has had a strong effect on subsequent poker books by others, because it is obvious poker players want to see a lot of examples of actual hands in addition to general theory.

PTP: One of the reasons I liked NL/PL so much was because it’s one of the only texts dedicated to NL/PL ring play. Some other books have a chapter or two, but I’ve yet to find another text that focuses entirely on big bet cash play. Why do you think there’s such a lack of material on the topic?

BC: Most of the new players are more attracted to tournament play. They like to know how much they are spending ahead of time, and are attracted by the possibility of a big payoff.

PTP: A few of your books have been written collaboratively, a few solo. Which process do you prefer?

BC: My next book, “No Limit Holdem Poker,” will be solo, but I would not rule out a joint effort in the future.

PTP: Anything book-wise you’re working on right now that you care to tell us about?

BC: NLHP will be written with many problems submitted by my students, in the same type of format used by MLHP

PTP: A lot of our readers may know you as “The Coach”, but some might not know that you still actively offer poker coaching. Tell us a little about what you offer and how the whole deal works.

BC: I offer two hours of instruction for $120. A free book is included in the package. Since few people live close enough to my home to meet me face-to-face, my instruction is done by email, MSN instant messenger, and phone.

PTP: You’ve been offering lessons for quite a few years. How did the rise of the Internet impact the way you coached players and the amount of coaching you found yourself doing?

BC: I taught before there was any Internet poker, but the demand for coaching is much heavier these days, with the Internet playing a major role in this.

PTP: Ok, so you’re writing books, playing chess, consulting for card rooms(both virtual and actual) and coaching other. How much do you actually get to play poker these days?

BC: I have played very little in Michigan. I go to major tournaments a few times a year. I play in some Internet tournaments. I am not willing to discuss whether I play in money games on the Internet because such play is technically illegal in Michigan, even though to the best of my knowledge, no one has ever been prosecuted for it.

PTP: I mentioned above that you’re consulting for online card rooms. I know you’re working pretty exclusively for Check and Raise Poker these days. Tell us a bit about how you met up with their team and what attracted you to their site.

BC: Check and Raise is a legal company located in Curaco. The company that provides technical assistance to them in the form of advertising and computer programming is located in Toronto. Bill Kertes, the company president, is one of my favorite bridge partners, among other things.

Also, I have a lot of ideas on how to improve poker online graphics, structure tournaments, and so forth. I was impressed with the receptiveness of ChecknRaise to new ideas. A lot of my input has been incorporated into the site.

PTP: What are some of the biggest challenges you all are facing as a growing card room?

BC: Reaching critical mass is very important, as money games are far more profitable than tournaments. By critical mass, I mean the ability to provide a full range of poker forms and stakes to the customers.

PTP: You’ve traveled extensively playing poker. Tell us about some of your favorite locales for card playing.

BC: The number one spot on the planet for me is Tunica, Mississippi. They treat you very well down there, because Jack Binion hosts the tournament. Plus the like Pot-Limit Omaha. I also enjoy playing in Europe and have made many visits to London.

PTP: I know you’re also a fairly accomplished chess player and author. Several chess players cross over into poker and vice versa. The overlapping skill sets are pretty obvious, but I’m curious to know if any skills you’ve developed in chess are actually a drawback for your poker game.

BC: There are no skills from chess that are drawbacks. The fact is there are many top chess players, bridge players and backgammon players that have taken up poker and are very good at it.

PTP: If you were forced to choose between live and online poker, which would you prefer and why?

BC: I don’t want to be forced into that choice. I like being able to play without having to leave my home, and I like seeing my opponent, so I expect to keep playing in both mediums for the rest of my life.

PTP: Thanks again for your time Bob, good luck with the writing, the coaching, and of course with ChecknRaisePoker.com.

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